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Briony Williams #2
The Visitor
1974. Oxford.
Detective Briony Williams, starting a new job with the Thames Valley police in Oxford, is called to investigate the murder of a seventeen-year-old girl.
Convinced that the girl’s murder is no ordinary domestic crime, Briony delves into the world of the supernatural when she finds a stone carved with an ancient cryptic message clutched in the victim’s hand.
The police need solid scientific evidence that will stand up in court, but in order to solve the case Briony must ally herself with a psychic girl and a druid leader.
As Briony investigates, the danger deepens, setting her directly in the path of a killer bent on eliminating anyone getting close to the truth.
Undeterred, Briony must steer a course between the rational and the supernatural in her search for The Visitor.
The Visitor is an expertly plotted crime thriller from a master of the genre.
‘A gripping, original, elegant fiction that wears a wealth of arcane knowledge lightly, never patronises the reader and leaves the door tantalisingly open for sequels.’- Weekend Australian
‘real edge of the seat stuff, deadly and dramatic…’ - Woman’s Day
‘This outstanding novel is everything a good psychological thriller should be — gruesome, unpredictable and un-put-downable.’ - Australian Women’s Weekly Book of the Month
Jane R Goodall is the author of three crime thrillers - The Walker, The Visitor and The Calling. She has also written books on theatre history and the history of science.
Detective Briony Williams, starting a new job with the Thames Valley police in Oxford, is called to investigate the murder of a seventeen-year-old girl.
Convinced that the girl’s murder is no ordinary domestic crime, Briony delves into the world of the supernatural when she finds a stone carved with an ancient cryptic message clutched in the victim’s hand.
The police need solid scientific evidence that will stand up in court, but in order to solve the case Briony must ally herself with a psychic girl and a druid leader.
As Briony investigates, the danger deepens, setting her directly in the path of a killer bent on eliminating anyone getting close to the truth.
Undeterred, Briony must steer a course between the rational and the supernatural in her search for The Visitor.
The Visitor is an expertly plotted crime thriller from a master of the genre.
‘A gripping, original, elegant fiction that wears a wealth of arcane knowledge lightly, never patronises the reader and leaves the door tantalisingly open for sequels.’- Weekend Australian
‘real edge of the seat stuff, deadly and dramatic…’ - Woman’s Day
‘This outstanding novel is everything a good psychological thriller should be — gruesome, unpredictable and un-put-downable.’ - Australian Women’s Weekly Book of the Month
Jane R Goodall is the author of three crime thrillers - The Walker, The Visitor and The Calling. She has also written books on theatre history and the history of science.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
20 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Jane R. Goodall
12 books15 followersFor the primatologist, see Dame Jane Goodall.
Professor Jane Goodall (b.1951) is a researcher at the Writing and Society Research Centre of Western Sydney University, Australia.
Prof Goodall has written extensively on arts in the modern era, with a special interest in the relationship between the arts and sciences. She has taught undergraduate courses and supervised research projects in relevant areas of arts history, and has conducted local history research on the Parramatta Road. Her academic publications include Artaud and the Gnostic Drama, Performance and Evolution in the Age of Darwin (winner of the Australasian Drama Studies Association’s Robert Jordan Prize), and, with Christa Knellwolf, the collection Frankenstein's Science (Ashgate, 2008), which contextualises Mary Shelley's work in contemporary scientific and literary debates. She is the author of the popular and award winning novels The Walker (2004), The Visitor (2005) and The Calling (2007). Jane's book on Stage Presence was published by Routledge in May 2008.
Professor Jane Goodall (b.1951) is a researcher at the Writing and Society Research Centre of Western Sydney University, Australia.
Prof Goodall has written extensively on arts in the modern era, with a special interest in the relationship between the arts and sciences. She has taught undergraduate courses and supervised research projects in relevant areas of arts history, and has conducted local history research on the Parramatta Road. Her academic publications include Artaud and the Gnostic Drama, Performance and Evolution in the Age of Darwin (winner of the Australasian Drama Studies Association’s Robert Jordan Prize), and, with Christa Knellwolf, the collection Frankenstein's Science (Ashgate, 2008), which contextualises Mary Shelley's work in contemporary scientific and literary debates. She is the author of the popular and award winning novels The Walker (2004), The Visitor (2005) and The Calling (2007). Jane's book on Stage Presence was published by Routledge in May 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 7, 2020
Another good page- turner holiday read. I enjoyed the setting, the psychological and mystical elements along with the rationalism that struggles with instinct in the police procedure. I especially like the way relationships within the police team retain their ambiguity and shift as people learn to get along, accept their shortcomings and adjust behaviour. While a few corners were cut in the resolution it was a good story well told. I’d like to read more.
June 3, 2010
A terribly plotted and confused novel. Too much going on, particularly by the end, with the sensation that ideas were raised for their surprise or novelty value and never properly followed up. Written by an author who has no idea how to keep disparate elements clear for the reader.
The involvement of supernatural plot lines was boring and the resolution was unsatisfying.
And although the novel was set in the 1970s there was very little in the novel to indicate that except for some mild sexism along the way. After watching Life on Mars an audience expects a great deal to indicate the period, the clothes, the food, the smells, atmosphere. To convey the 1970s requires a stronger author than this.
I didn't like the first book in the series 'The Walker'. Additionally the first few chapters were familiar and I realised I'd begun this book a few years ago and never finished. I did this time. Wish I hadn't bothered.
She's no Val McDermid (although she tries to be), she doesn't come close to Minette Walters, Rendell or Elizabeth George.
Somebody get her an editor with precision or stop her from writing any more.
I only kept reading to find out 'who done it' and it really wasn't worth the journey.
No Stars!
The involvement of supernatural plot lines was boring and the resolution was unsatisfying.
And although the novel was set in the 1970s there was very little in the novel to indicate that except for some mild sexism along the way. After watching Life on Mars an audience expects a great deal to indicate the period, the clothes, the food, the smells, atmosphere. To convey the 1970s requires a stronger author than this.
I didn't like the first book in the series 'The Walker'. Additionally the first few chapters were familiar and I realised I'd begun this book a few years ago and never finished. I did this time. Wish I hadn't bothered.
She's no Val McDermid (although she tries to be), she doesn't come close to Minette Walters, Rendell or Elizabeth George.
Somebody get her an editor with precision or stop her from writing any more.
I only kept reading to find out 'who done it' and it really wasn't worth the journey.
No Stars!
March 6, 2015
What started as an adventure on the hills of the Oxfordshire ends with a series of murders and kidnappings and Detective Briony Williams must find the killer before other innocents are killed. Set in the 1970s, the novel follows Detective Briony Williams, a brilliant detective who left glamorous London for the countryside, as she fights against time to find a killer and at the same time tries to gain the respect of her sexist colleagues.
It is a captivating and thrilling story with a little of mysticism and folklore in it that will keep the reader in suspense until the end.
It is a captivating and thrilling story with a little of mysticism and folklore in it that will keep the reader in suspense until the end.
May 14, 2020
This is a good story read well. Keeps you listening and trying to work out who the culprit is.
April 2, 2010
This was both an excellent, excellent English police procedural mystery PLUS a realy amazing element of superstition incorperating the very landscape I use in DESCENT INTO DUST. I loved this book on so many levels. My only complaint was that there is only one--I want to "visit" these characters again. Is THE WALKER, Ms. Goodall's newest release, another with these characters? I hope so. Doesn't matter, I'm still reading it.
February 17, 2016
Turgid
When this started the story had potential. As it progressed it became like a keen storyteller from grade 4s story. Very dense with not much direction. I'm not sure why I finished the book - perhaps it was to see if it improved, which it didn't.
When this started the story had potential. As it progressed it became like a keen storyteller from grade 4s story. Very dense with not much direction. I'm not sure why I finished the book - perhaps it was to see if it improved, which it didn't.
January 29, 2016
Brilliant.
September 23, 2019
This complex novel pits folklore, superstition and the supernatural against forensic science and police procedure to produce an intriguing story about the hunt for an elusive serial killer. DI Briony Williams starts a new job with a murder that will take her to her wits end as she’s dragged through myth, superstition and fear in search of facts that will make a case and identify the Visitor.
I enjoyed the novel as I like something different from the usual run-of-the-mill police procedurals that seem to be everywhere these days. I’ve always been fascinated by superstition and the supernatural, both in terms of wondering what might be out there, and more importantly, the affect it can have on people and the way they behave. The author certainly provides a deep insight into ancient folklore and the way beliefs can manipulate, frighten and subdue people.
The investigation pits Briony against her more hard headed colleagues and superiors, who prefer a conventional, follow the evidence approach to apprehending the killer. The trouble is, the killer always seems to be several steps ahead, killing anyone who might reveal the truth about him.
While I liked the detail on folklore and superstitions, necessary for the plot, it seemed to come at the expense of character development. There were glimpses of personal issues and relationships that could have been developed to add more depth to the characters and story. Though fascinating, the detail needed to support the story inevitably slowed the pace in places, leading to a somewhat hurried climax.
That said, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys something different and challenging. I’m moving on to read The Calling, the third and final book in the Briony Williams series.
I enjoyed the novel as I like something different from the usual run-of-the-mill police procedurals that seem to be everywhere these days. I’ve always been fascinated by superstition and the supernatural, both in terms of wondering what might be out there, and more importantly, the affect it can have on people and the way they behave. The author certainly provides a deep insight into ancient folklore and the way beliefs can manipulate, frighten and subdue people.
The investigation pits Briony against her more hard headed colleagues and superiors, who prefer a conventional, follow the evidence approach to apprehending the killer. The trouble is, the killer always seems to be several steps ahead, killing anyone who might reveal the truth about him.
While I liked the detail on folklore and superstitions, necessary for the plot, it seemed to come at the expense of character development. There were glimpses of personal issues and relationships that could have been developed to add more depth to the characters and story. Though fascinating, the detail needed to support the story inevitably slowed the pace in places, leading to a somewhat hurried climax.
That said, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys something different and challenging. I’m moving on to read The Calling, the third and final book in the Briony Williams series.
January 17, 2021
The bodies pile up fast at Druidic sites around Oxford in this police procedural set in 1974. As usual, DI Briony Williams is being ignored or underestimated as she stalks a large and violent man and his puppet master who appear to have occult links. Jane Goodall has once again woven a complex crime / investigation story with loads of juicy red herrings and many moving parts. I’m not a huge fan of magical realism and there were certainly touches of this throughout the plot, but it did add to the occult nature of the story. What I do find slightly unsatisfying is the way these stories end abruptly with very little post-mortem explanation - you are left to piece together the findings and discard the red herrings as they are discovered by the team. Nicki Paull’s narration was superb: well-paced, a wide range of character voices and accents, AND she has a great singing voice!
August 25, 2019
What did I think of this book? Not much really. I started out enjoying the story and it had my interest but by about half way through that interest faded away. It’s way too long and I’m bored rigid now. I listened to this book and while the narrator, Niki Paul has a delightful voice, the other voices she used for the different characters drove me bonkers. DI Briony Williams’s voice was in annoying Welsh accent and it was so soft and gentle at times I thought she’d be much more effective as nurse attending a dying patient. Anyway I’m about to snuggle down to sleep and listen to the last chapter. Yes, I’ve done the unforgivable and skimmed to end. SHOCK HORROR!
September 23, 2018
Apparently involves time travel, as one of the characters owns a Miss Piggy notebook. In 1974. A full two years before Miss Piggy entered the cultural landscape. (It's called *research*, Ms. Goodall...)
Impressively devoid of atmosphere, which is no small feat considering the setting.
Impressively devoid of atmosphere, which is no small feat considering the setting.
May 18, 2019
I listened to this book. It was extremely well read and the reader did a wonderful job with all the different voices being able to maintain them throughout the book. However I think there were far too many characters and the suspense could have been sustained without so many characters.
May 12, 2017
I enjoyed listening to this audio book (especially liked Bryony's accent) but the plot line seemed to get a little confusing/disjointed.
March 20, 2018
Great read! Even better than the first Briony Williams book but would still recommend reading that first. Am reading the third book in the series and loving it!
January 3, 2024
I wanted to enjoy this but I felt it just went on too long and I ended up speed reading to get to the end.
August 22, 2025
Three stars is generous. I would’ve liked this book a lot more if the supernatural themes weren’t included and if the ending wasn’t confusing.
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July 25, 2009The Visitor, by Jane R. Goodall, b-plus, narrated by Nicki Paul, produced by Bolinda Publishing, downloaded from audible.com.
This is the second in the Briony Williams series. Briony is an inspector and is currently assigned to Oxford and surrounding villages. The narrator is wonderful with the different accents, in this case, Scottish, Welsh, and Australian. Briony and the police are called to the scene of a murder. A young girl’s body is found in the professor’s house where she was au pair to his twin boys. She has been struck in the back of the head with a rock of flint covered with chalk. They find a similar round rock in her hand. In the first chapter we learn that the girl, Sylvie, had gone with the boys up into the Oxford woods where they had deliberately lost her. The twins ran home after seeing a man who appeared to be chopping wood, but the object on the ground was not a tree. Sylvie saw the same man and also ran home. She was killed a few weeks after that. As Briony investigates, she finds a group of Druids celebrating rituals. There are more murders, and Briony and the police must figure out why the murders are taking place. She feels an urgency to catch the killer before more children are put in danger. It’s a somewhat confusing book with a lot of woo-woo, almost too much for me, and that’s saying something. But the book definitely held my interest to the end and I will now read her debut book in the series, “The Walker” which is also available to me.
This is the second in the Briony Williams series. Briony is an inspector and is currently assigned to Oxford and surrounding villages. The narrator is wonderful with the different accents, in this case, Scottish, Welsh, and Australian. Briony and the police are called to the scene of a murder. A young girl’s body is found in the professor’s house where she was au pair to his twin boys. She has been struck in the back of the head with a rock of flint covered with chalk. They find a similar round rock in her hand. In the first chapter we learn that the girl, Sylvie, had gone with the boys up into the Oxford woods where they had deliberately lost her. The twins ran home after seeing a man who appeared to be chopping wood, but the object on the ground was not a tree. Sylvie saw the same man and also ran home. She was killed a few weeks after that. As Briony investigates, she finds a group of Druids celebrating rituals. There are more murders, and Briony and the police must figure out why the murders are taking place. She feels an urgency to catch the killer before more children are put in danger. It’s a somewhat confusing book with a lot of woo-woo, almost too much for me, and that’s saying something. But the book definitely held my interest to the end and I will now read her debut book in the series, “The Walker” which is also available to me.
January 25, 2014
I grew quite enthused by this second adventure of Briony Williams as I listened. A visit to a mysterious historic landmark in the countryside leads to the death of an au pair, and Briony must unravel a tangled history of folklore and mysticism against the wishes of her superiors. It's a rocky road to the truth for the young police detective, and, for me, a satisfying novel. It's unfortunate that the print editions of the Briony books seem hard to come by.
January 16, 2016
I quite like Briony as a character and parts of this book were chilling. I know Oxford and I have grandboy twins about the same age as Miles and Daniel, so the horror was a bit personalised. But about three quarters of the way in I just wanted it to finish as I was becoming bored and it was going on a bit.
October 5, 2011
Na-ja...
Sehr solide geschrieben, vorhersehbare Handlung - bestimmt kein Literaturnobelpreis, aber Freunde des klassischen Krimis fernab moderner CSI-Methoden werden auf ihre Kosten kommen.
War ok, aber ich bin froh, es nicht gekauft zu haben, sondern von meiner Mama geborgt.
Sehr solide geschrieben, vorhersehbare Handlung - bestimmt kein Literaturnobelpreis, aber Freunde des klassischen Krimis fernab moderner CSI-Methoden werden auf ihre Kosten kommen.
War ok, aber ich bin froh, es nicht gekauft zu haben, sondern von meiner Mama geborgt.
August 4, 2011
Quite good, a bit far fetched.
February 14, 2016
Was worth another half star. A pretty good read - maybe a bit longer than it needed to be and just a few too many players in the plot
did-not-finish
February 23, 2016I tried with this book, I really did but it was boring. It was a great plot idea but there just wasn't any excitement or suspense in the book. Very disappointing.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews